The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-06-12
BRIDES OF THE MAD KING.
Tragic Ending OF Strange Mania Among
the Maidens of Bavaria.

the Matdens oil bavaria.
Paris Letter in Chicago Tribune
A curious feminine mania Is called to mind by
the recent tragic news from Munich. Two young,
ladies' of that city-Baronesses-have committed
suicide by drowning in the Starnberg Lake, at
the very spot where the mad King Louis drowned
himself last year The names of these ladies are
familiar to all who have been admitted to the best
Munich society. They were sisters, aged twenty
three und twenty six and were famed for their
beauty. Their family is very noble and
wealthy one. The mania to which they fell vic-
TINS had its origin fifteen or sixteen years ago
The young King was then at the height of hisi
romantic fame. His ideally handsome likeness
was to be seen everywhere, and everywhere you
heard talk of his poetic melancholy his roman
tic spirit and confirmed celibacy Naturally he
became object OF intense interest to,
sentimental young ladies. Presently, among
the other absurd tales that wers
told of him, there went abroad the story that he
spent most of his time wandering about his
Kingdom IN disguise. He haunted shady lanes
and romantic spots seeking for some fair maid
en- who should be his chosen bride Well, this
silly tale was believed, and set thousands OF
hearts to fluttering. Each maiden wondered il
she would be his choice if he CHANGED TO meet
her under the lime trees And she hestated to-
plight her troth to her village lover until shd'
should have had chance to meet the King
So il came to pass that in the village of Ber-
tholdshofen in the romantic mountain region OF
Southern Bavaria, the maidens formed them.
selves into sort of sisterhood. They pledged
themselves to each other not to marry until they
were sure the King had passed them by. Each
likeness
bosom, and each was to choose for herself
secret bower where at eventide she should wais
his coming. A more foolish scheme probably,
never was devised by the silly brains Of
love-sick schoolgirls. But more than .
score OF Bertholdshofeu maidens entered into il
with the zeal and devotion of nuns. The fame
of this sisterhood spread to other villages, to-
towns and cities-nay, to Munich itself. Rustoi
wenches and the petted beauties of princelyi
palaces elike caught the mad disease. Within q
year not less than 10000 young women alb
through Bavaria had taken upon themselves the
vows of Ludwig" and were waiting for their
King
In time ., of these girls imagined they
had been and passed by by the King and
thus freed from their vows. accepted humber
husbands. Others grew tired of waiting and
rokeTtheir vows. Still others waited and waited
in vain, until al ,:her suitors had passed them
by: and thu raiting still and will be wait
ing all thei But the ranks of the orig
inal sister, Sere thinned new recruits were
added Al the brides of Ludwig
were still counted by thousands 1t is estimated
that there were no less than 1000 of them
at the time of his suicide When the newsof
that tragedy became known they forthwith put
or mourning and called themselves ''the widows
OF Ludwig Many OF them took solemn vows OF
lifelong celibacy as a token of faithfuIness to
his memory. Among these latter two of the
most devoted were the young harnesses OF
Munich, to whom have referred. They con-
stantly wore the deepest mourning. So
Confirmed conf anu melancholy Every week
they went to Starnberg and threw garlands Of
flowers into the water at the spot where tho
share his fate. They arrayed themselves as
brides, even to DOMINIC wells and orange bios
SONS. rowed out into the lake to the spot where
he was drowned and threw themselves into the
water. Their bodies were found next day clasped
in each others arms, and with portraits of the
mad King next their hearts.